Arts News

March 29, 2009|The Morning Call

TONY NOMINEE TO PERFORM IN SHAKESPEARE FEST

Michael McGrath, nominated for a 2005 Tony Award as featured actor for the hit musical "Spamalot," will play John Adams this summer in the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival production of the musical "1776."

McGrath was knighted by the Tony Award committee for his role as Patsy, King Arthur's right-and-left-hand man in the Broadway musical based on the film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."

A Broadway veteran, McGrath won a 1996 Theatre World Award for "Swinging on a Star." He also has performed in "Anything Goes" and "Wonderful Town."

The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival's "1776" opens June 17 and ends July 5, a day after Independence Day, which John Adams and his fellow patriots established 234 years ago.

The festival runs June 3 to Aug. 2. Single tickets for all productions go on sale Wednesday. More info: 610-282-WILL, www.pashakespeare.org.

WDIY NAMES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dr. Bill Dautremont-Smith, 58, of Orefield has been named executive director of WDIY 88.1 FM. Dautremont-Smith has served as interim executive director since April 2008. He leads a staff of seven, along with more than 150 community volunteers.

Dautremont-Smith joined WDIY as a volunteer programmer in February 2003 after taking early retirement from Agere/Lucent/AT&T/Bell Labs.

He became host of "World Rhythms" and was a member of the board, and then served as president. Dautremont-Smith was also the regular Tuesday on-air host of WDIY's weekday afternoon eclectic music mix program, "The Blend," and continues to host"World Rhythms" and "All-Star Jazz."

WDIY joins more than 450 radio stations across the country to carry "Fresh Air," produced by WHYY-FM in Philadelphia.

WDIY currently broadcasts "Fresh Air Weekend" on Sunday evenings from 9 to 10 p.m. For more info, go to www.wdiy.org.

ARTIST SEEKS VOLUNTEERS TO MAP BETHLEHEM

Lehigh University will host public artist Christian Nold for an unconventional mapping project entitled the Bethlehem Biopsy. During a three-week residency, Nold will enlist members of the Bethlehem community and register their experiences and feelings toward Bethlehem using bio and emotional mapping techniques. The results will help Nold create a map of emotions for the City of Bethlehem.

Lehigh is is seeking volunteers for various activities throughout the three-week process beginning in April. An organizational meeting on the Bethlehem Biopsy will take place at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Ice House on Sand Island in Bethlehem.

Nold's "Bio Mapping" project has been staged in 16 countries and more than 1,500 people have taken part in workshops and exhibitions. Nold has mapped cities such as San Francisco and Paris. For more information on his projects go to www.biomapping.net.

ALBRIGHT TO OFFER ARTS ADMINISTRATION

Beginning this fall, Albright College will offer a program in arts administration. It is one of the first undergraduate programs of its kind in the region. For information see www.albright.edu.